45/13, 14: Chapter
Sunan an-Nasai 4745 — Believers and Covenants
No Retaliation Is To Be Carried Out If A Muslim Kills A Disbeliever
Hadith About Believers' Blood and Honoring Covenants
Sunan an-Nasai : 4745
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4745
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَسَّانَ، قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ مَا عَهِدَ إِلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِشَىْءٍ دُونَ النَّاسِ إِلاَّ فِي صَحِيفَةٍ فِي قِرَابِ سَيْفِي . فَلَمْ يَزَالُوا بِهِ حَتَّى أَخْرَجَ الصَّحِيفَةَ فَإِذَا فِيهَا " الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ لاَ يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلاَ ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ " .
Abi Hassan Narrated from:
Ali said: 'The Messenger of Allah did not tell me anything that he did not tell the people, except what is in a sheet in the sheath of my word.' They did not leave him alone until he brought out the sheet, and in it (were the words): 'The lives of the believers are equal in value, and they hasten to support the asylum granted by the least of them, and they are one against others. But no believer may be killed in return for a disbeliever, nor one with a covenant while his covenant is in effect.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4745In-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 40English translation : Vol. 5, Book 45, Hadith 4749
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4745
This Hadith reports that Ali said the Messenger of Allah did not give him private teaching kept from other people, except what was written in a sheet in the sheath of his sword. The sheet said that the lives of the believers are equal in value, that even the least of them may grant asylum, and that believers stand together against others. It also states that no believer may be killed in return for a disbeliever, nor someone with a covenant while the covenant is still in effect. The main topic is covenant protection and the value of believers' lives. Searchers looking for hadith about covenant, believer blood is equal, or mu'ahad protection will find this text direct and strong.
What we learn from this hadith
- The lives of believers are described as equal in value.
- The text gives weight to protection granted by even the least among believers.
- A covenant is treated as something that remains respected while it is in effect.
- Ali again denies having private hidden teaching beyond what he mentioned.
